Syria

In the last month, human rights organizations and journalists reporting on the police-run migrant camps in Roszke, Hungary—close to the Serbian border—have increasingly had their press freedom rights and their ability to accurately report on the refugee crisis infringed upon.

CJFE welcomes reports that all charges against journalist and human rights defender Mazen Darwish will be dropped after a Syrian court ruled that a 2014 amnesty applies to the case.

Darwish’s wife Yara Bader, director of the Syrian Center for Media Freedom (SCM), an organization created by Darwish in 2004, delivered the news with free expression groups by email. The decision of the amnesty for Darwish and his SCM colleagues Hussein Gharir and Hani Al-Zitani will become final after 30 days.

CJFE celebrates the release of Syrian journalist and human rights defender Mazen Darwish, after three and a half years of arbitrary detention. Darwish was first arrested in February 2012, along with his colleagues at the Syrian Centre for Media and Free Expression (SCM) Hussein Gharir and Hani Al-Zitani; Gharir and Al-Zitani were freed on July 17 and 18, 2015, respectively. In a statement, Darwish’s wife Yader Bader confirmed her husband’s release and said that he is “extremely happy, but also tired.”

Around the world, journalists are being targeted in unprecedented ways, from kidnappings to cyber-attacks and even public killings. A press vest or a camera used to offer some semblance of protection for reporters—now these can serve more as targets. Read about the important work of four Canadian journalists who are fighting for free expression abroad.

CJFE is encouraged by the recent release of Syrian human rights defenders Hussein Gharir and Hani Al-Zitani from prison in Syria on 17 and 18 July respectively. However, Mazen Darwish, their colleague at the Syrian Centre for Media and Free Expression (SCM), remains in prison and must be immediately and unconditionally released. CJFE, as well as many human rights organizations around the world, have made repeated pleas for his freedom.

CJFE is encouraged by the recent release of Syrian human rights defenders Hussein Gharir and Hani Al-Zitani from prison in Syria on 17 and 18 July respectively. However, Mazen Darwish, their colleague at the Syrian Centre for Media and Free Expression (SCM), remains in prison and must be immediately and unconditionally released.

To mark the 38th birthday (on April 29) of missing human rights defender and lawyer Razan Zaitouneh, head of the Violations Documentation Centre in Syria (VDC), winner of the 2011 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought and the 2011 Anna Politkovskaya Award of RAW in WAR (Reach All Women In War), CJFE joins the undersigned human rights organizations to reiterate our call for her immediate release, as well as that of her missing colleagues Samira Khalil, Nazem Hamadi and Wa’el Hamada.

I am writing on behalf of Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE), a non-profit, non-governmental organization that works to promote and protect press freedom and freedom of expression around the world.

CJFE is one of 24 IFEX members calling on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to release human rights defender Mazen Darwish ahead of his March 25 verdict on terrorism charges.

A woman walks by a battle-torn building in the Khaldiya neighbourhood of Aleppo, Syria. Many areas of the city have seen intense fighting between Syrian rebel fighters and government forces. Aleppo, SYRIA – 30/4/2013. PHOTO: Ali Mustafa/SIPA Press

His Excellency Dr. Bashar Ja’afari
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations
The Permanent Mission of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations
820 Second Avenue, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10017

Dear Ambassador,

I am writing on behalf of Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE), a non-profit, non-governmental organization that works to promote and protect press freedom and freedom of expression around the world.